Consequences of Sin (2 Samuel 12:15-31)
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Todayâs reading is 2 Samuel 12:15-31
He said, âWhile the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, âWho knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?â
2 Samuel 12:22
Reflect â¤ď¸
When I was eight, I was playing tag with my best friend, and I thought it would be funny to stick out a foot and trip him up while he was trying to escape. So I did. My friend tripped up. My friend fell down. My friend broke his arm.
Sin has consequences.
As we continue in chapter 12, God in his mercy has accepted the repentance of David and forgiven his sin (v13). David deserved to die, but in the beautiful mercy of God he is fully pardoned. The language is clear: âThe LORD has put away your sinâ (12:13). It has been put away. Far away. Gone. God has forgiven.
But the child still died (v18). Why?
Sin always has consequences. The drunk driver who hits an innocent bystander may be forgiven by the victimâs family, but that forgiveness does not bring back the loved one. People can break free from addiction, but they probably cannot just walk back into the job they lost, nor can they restore damaged relationships without enormous work. Some choices we make are not easily taken back. God in Christ forgives our sin (hallelujah!); our record at final judgement will be clean, but sweeping up the consequences in this life is not always simple.
Such a situation often leads us to despair. âIf God has forgiven me, why am I still living in the wreckage of my sin?â But as followers of Jesus, let us see four things in this dark passage that shed some light on dealing with the fallout of sin.
Let us heed the sober warning
When it comes to our sin, there is no such thing as a victimless crime. In a world of screens and remote working, it is easier than ever to detach our actions from their consequences. But anonymous comments can destroy lives, and hidden indulgences can fuel abuse. Our sin affects others - ourselves, our families, our friends, even strangers and whole cultures. We must not be deceived. Donât wait for the experience of crushing regret to heed Davidâs lesson.
Let us remember that God is judge
Davidâs choice led to a cascade of hurt. The Bible is clear that Davidâs sin has caused the childâs death (v15). More than that, much of what unfolds between here and chapter 20, in one way or another, is tainted by this sinful episode. But we must see that God is still in control. God knew that the child would die. God, in his sovereignty, allowed it. âThe Lord afflicted the childâ (v15), we are told. This can be hard to comprehend, even stomach. But there is comfort in knowing that God is the sovereign judge.
For the victim of someone else's sin, Godâs sovereignty assures us that God will deal with sin justly. God can and will fully administer his righteous justice on the human race. This may happen in part in this life, but it will happen fully in the next. Yes, in Godâs mercy his wrath is poured out on Christ for all who hide themselves in him, but we can be totally sure that justice will be done. It is true, it can be hard to always understand why God acts as he does, and often we may want God to bring his justice more swiftly, or in a different way. But when we humbly confess that God is God, and he will bring about justice in his time, we can take great comfort in him. God cares for the broken, the victim, and the wronged. God will do justice.
Let us cling to Godâs mercy
For the perpetrator of sin, repentant but still living in the aftermath of our own destructive choices, there is hope. Yes, God uses these painful consequences of our sin as part of his fatherly discipline, teaching us the seriousness of our rebellion. But also, in our suffering, we can and must cling to the mercy of God.
David was sure of this. Throughout the illness of the child David fasted and wept. Why? Because he knew who his God was. He knew that his God was gracious and compassionate, angry for a moment but faithful in his love (v22). David threw himself on Godâs mercy. And while the child still died, David knew his grounding was on the grace of God. With his precious child declared dead, David rose from his fast and worshipped the God who is in control and is full of grace (v20).
Let us have hope for life beyond our sin
Because of Godâs mercy David had hope beyond the consequences of his sin. He knew that one day he would see his precious child again, because he hoped in the God who raises the dead (v23). And more than that, even in the near future he sees the mercy of God play out. A second child was born to Bathsheba, this time in wedlock, and in Godâs mercy this child is called Jedidiah, beloved of the Lord (v25). Or, as we know him, Solomon.
Pray đ
Some of us may walk the rest of our lives with the consequences of sin following us. But like David we must know that:
God's forgiveness of us is total and complete
The God is in control and will do justice
That God is a God of mercy which we can and must cling to
And that, in Godâs grace, there is life beyond our sin. We can have hope.
God of justice, Father of mercy, have mercy on me. Cover me in Christ, and by your grace teach me your ways, to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly before you, my God. Amen